Adjustable self-centering roll



Oct. 24, 1961 F. w. BUTSCHER ADJUSTABLE SELF-CENTERING ROLL Filed March24, 1959 /N 1 5 IV T0,? FRANK n. BUTSCHER iltliifi This inventionrelates to a self-centering roll and more particularly to aself-centering roll of the type disclosed in the patents to Lorig Nos.2,593,158 and 2,817,940. The rolls disclosed in these patents dependupon deflection of their end sections. In designing such rolls thetension to be applied to the roll by the strip passing ther'eover is animportant factor in determining the centering action. The rolls shown inthe above mentioned patents do not have any means for adjusting theamount of deflection which can take place under variable strip tensions.The patent to Lorig No. 2,692,773 discloses a roll having means foradjusting the deflection. However, this adjustment is dependent upon apl rality of tension bolts which must be individually adjusted to acommon tension. This construction is expensive and the adjustment isdlflicult.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a self-centeringroll which is provided with means for readily adjusting the amount ofroll deflection.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of myinvention;

FIGURE 1a is an enlarged View of a portion of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line line 11-11 of FIGURE 1 with partsbroken away and shown in section; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of my invention.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 1, 1c and 2, tie referencenumeral 2 indicates coaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders overwhich a strip S passes in a direction transverse to the axes of thecylinders. Each of the cylinders 2 is provided with a radial web 4 atits outer end which is attached to a sleeve 6 in any manner providingfor axial adjustment. As shown, this connection is a universal joint 8but the web 4 could be attached directly to a ring 19 mounted on thesleeve 6. The universal joint 8 consists of three rings ill, 12 and 14.The ring ltl is attached to the sleeve 6 by means of a set screw 16. Theouter ring 14 is welded to the web 4. The center ring 12 is pivotallyattached to the outer ring 14 by means of diametrically opposed pins 13and to the inner ring by means of diametrically opposed pins 2%)arranged at 90 from the pins 18. A locking pin 2.2 passes through eachof the pins 18 and a similar locking pin 24 passes through each of thepins 26. Suflicient clearance is left between rings in and 12 and between rings 12 and 14 to permit tilting movement therebetween. A radialweb 26 is fastened to the adjacent ends of the rims 2 and is providedWith a bronze sleeve or hearing 28 held in position by means of setscrews 30. Each of the sleeves 6 has a frusto-conic'al end 32 which isreceived in the opening in bushing 28. The sleeves 6 are hollow toreceive a shaft 34 and are held in position thereon by means of setscrews 38. This construction also enables the surface of both cylinders2 to be machined after assembly.

The operation of the self-centering roll is essentially the same as thatshown in the above mentioned patents with the universal joints 8 servingto compensate for tilting as shown in my copending application SerialNo. 799,209, filed March 13, 1959 entitled Self-Centering Patented Got.24, 1951 Roll. When it is desired to change the amount of deflection ofthe cylinders the set screws 16 and 33 are loosened and the sleeves 6moved axially to the desired position after which the set screws 16 and38 are tightened.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGURE 3, each of thecylinders 2 is provided with a frustoconical inside surface 41) and eachsleeve 6' is provided with a radial Web or flange 42 at its inner end.The construction is otherwise the same as that of the roll of FIGURE 1and the adjustment for variable tension is essentially the same as thatof the roll of FIGURE 1. The set screws 16 and 38 are loosened and thesleeves 6' are moved axially so as to vary the peripheral space orclearance between the surface 4t? and the web 42. Thus, in eachembodiment a peripheral clearance is provided between an inner web and afrusto-conical surface, the amount of clearance being variable by movinga sleeve axially.

While two embodiments of my invention have been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, means supporting the outer ends of said cylinders, meansextending through said cylinders coaxial therewith and arranged toprovide a peripheral space to per mit limited deflection of the adjacentends of said cylinders, and means for changing the width of saidperipheral space to vary the amount of deflection of the adjacent endsof said cylinders.

2. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, means supporting the outer ends of said cylinders, meansextending through said cylinders coaxial therewith, means extendingradially between said sec- 0nd named means and said cylinders, said lastnamed means being of such dimensions as to provide a pcripheral space topermit limited deflection of the ad jacent ends of said cylinders, and afrusto-conical surface on one of said second named means and itsassociated cylinder, said second named means being movable axially tochange the width of said peripheral space to vary the amount ofdeflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders.

*3. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, means supporting the outer ends of said cylinders, saidmeans including a universal coupling, means extending through saidcylinders coaxial therewith and arranged to provide a peripheral spaceto permit limited deflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders, andmeans for changing the width of said peripheral space to vary the amountof deflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders.

4. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, means supporting the outer ends of said cylinders, saidmeans including a universal coupling, means extending through saidcylinders coaxial therewith, means extending radially between saidsecond named means and said cylinders, said last named means being ofsuch dimensions as to provide a peripheral space to permit limiteddeflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders, and a frusto-conicalsurface on one of said second named means and its associated cylindersaid second named means being movable axially to change the width ofsaid peripheral space to vary the amount of deflection oi the adjacentends of said cylinders.

5. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction trans verse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, a radial web at the outer end of each of said cylinders, ashaft extending through said cylinders coaxial therewith, a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjustably mounted on said shaft onewithin each cylinder, a universal joint extending between and attachedto said radial Web and said sleeve at the outer end'ot each cylinder,means extending radially between each of said sleeves and its associatedcylinder, said means being of such'dimensions as to provide a peripheralspace to permit limited deflection of the adjacent ends of saidcylinders, and radially opposed cooperating surfaces forming saidperipheral space, one of said cooperating surfaces being frusto-conical,said sleeves being movable axially to change the width of saidperipheral space to vary the amount of de action of the adjacent ends ofsaid cylinders.

6. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprisinga pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to theaxes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, a radial web-at the outer end of each of said cylinders, ashaft extending through said cylinders e axial therewith, a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjustably mounted'on said shaft onewithin each cylinder, means supporting said radial Web on the associatedsleeve, means extending radially between each of said sleeves and itsassociated cylinder, said lastnamed means being of such dimensions as toprovide a peripheral space to permit limited deflection of the adjacentends of said cylinders, and radially opposed cooperating surfacesforming said peripheral space, one of said cooperating surfaces beingfnisto-conical, said sleeves being movable axially to change the widthof said peripheral space to vary the amount of deflection of theadjacent ends of 'said cylinders.

'over which the object passes in a direction transverse to the axes ofthe cylinder, each of said cylinders having inner and outer ends withthe inner ends adjacent each other, a radial Web at the outer end ofeach of said cylinders, a shaft extending through said cylinders coaxialtherewith, a pair of coaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjustablymounted on said shaft one within each cylinder, means supporting saidradial web on the associated sleeve, a radial web attached to each ofsaid cylinders at the end adjacent the other cylinder, and afrusto-conical surface on the inner end of each sleeve, the insidediameter of each of said last named webs being greater than the diameterof the cooperating surface of said sleeve so as to provide a peripheralspace to permit limited deflection of the adjacent ends of saidcylinders, said sleeves being movable axially to changetthe width ofsaid peripheral space to vary the amount of, deflection of the adjacentends of said cylinders.

8. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends atljacenteach other, a radial web at the outer end of each of said cylinders, ashaft extending through said cylinders coaxial therewith, a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjnstably mounted on said shaft onewithin each cylinder, a universal joint extending between and attachedto said radial web and said sleeve at the outer end of each cylinder,and a radial web attached to each of said cylinders at the end adjacentthe other cylinder, a frusto-conical surface on the inner end of eachsleeve, the inside diameter of each of said last named webs beinggreater than the diameter of the cooperating surface of said sleeve soas to provide a peripheral space to permit limited deflection of theadjacent ends of said cylinders, said sleeves being movable axially tochange the width of said peripheral space to vary the amount ofdeflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders.

9. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, a radial web at the outer end of each of said cylinders, ashaft extending through said cylinders coaxial therewith, a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjustably mounted on said shaft onewithin each cylinder, means supporting said radial web on the associatedsleeve, a radial web attached to each 'of said sleeves at the endadjacent the other sleeve, and

cooperating surface of said'cylinder so as to provide a peripheral spaceto permit limited deflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders,said sleeves being movable axially to change the width of saidperipheral space to vary the amount of deflection of the adjacent endsof said cylinders.

10. Apparatus for positioning a moving object comprising a pair ofeoaxially opposed rotatable hollow cylinders over which the objectpasses in a direction transverse to the axes of the cylinders, each ofsaid cylinders having inner and outer ends with the inner ends adjacenteach other, a radial web at the outer end 0t each of said cylinders, ashaft extending through said cylinders coaxial therewith, a pair ofcoaxially opposed rotatable sleeves adjustabiy mounted on said shaft oneWithin each cylinder, a universal joint extending between and attachedto said radial web and said sleeve at the outer end of each cylinder, aradial web attached to each of said sleeves at the end adjacent theother sleeve, and a frusto-conical surface on the inside or the innerend of each cylinder, the outside diameter of each of said last namedwebs being less than the diameter of the cooperating surface of'saidcylinder so as to provide a peripheral space to permit limiteddeflection of the adjacent ends oi said cylinders, said sleeves beingmovable axially to change the width of said peripheral space to vary theamount of deflection of the adjacent ends of said cylinders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

